John bus s



Dec. 19 1922. 1,439,143 J, BUSS.

EARTH EMBEDDED FLOWER Houben. FILED JUNE 16.1922.

Patented Dec. 19, 1922;

`UNITED STATES 1,439,143 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN Buss, 0F FKREEPQRT, ILLINOIS.

EABTH-EMBEDDED Application led .Tune 16,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN Buss, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Earth-Embedded Flower Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention .relates to flower holders, especially such as are to be sunk or embedded in the earth, in cemeteries,.for example, and so not subjectto upsetting by winds. The construction is such that the device mayhold flowers at some distance above the grounds surface, so that. rains will not spray them withearthy matter, or may hold them not so raised, or whennot in use may itself be flush with theground and not interfere withv mowing,.raking, or walking upon the entire surface. The holder is adapted to contain a removable water receptacle, to hold the flowers M in desired arrangement, and to resist withdrawal from the earth, and at the same time to be very simple in construction, durable, and almost invisible when not in use. Preferably, the device consists of two tubular telescoping parts, both downwardly open so that water will not accumulate there in, the outer part having earth engaging projections which resist vertical movement, and the inner part arranged for a limited upward movement with respect to its companion, and for locking in raised position.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l. is a side view of the device sunk in the grounifl, parts heilig broken away.'

llig, 2 is a similar view, showing flowers in place and `certain parts in ditl'erent positions. Y

Fig. 3 is a plan of the upper end ot the apparatus Fig. t is a section on the line 1l-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragment of the upper end of the apparatus.

In these views, A represents a downwardly and upwardly open tubular structure having, preferably, at its lower end outwardly projecting portions, shown in this instanceas an integral flange A to permit lifting the tube out of the earth, X, and the whole is formed of material which is not readily corroded, e. g. galvanized iron. .In this tube slides a similar tube Pi having on one side between its ends, a portion ot its FLOWER HOLDER.

1922. Serial No. 568,728.

wall removed to `form an opening C extending approximately from side to side ofv the tube. Below the opening, this inner tube has a transverse member Dto support a water receptacle E which is at will inserted and removed through said opening C, and at its upper end is provided with a fixed top F which may be integral or soldered in place. The top has a marginal flange G around the body ofthe tube and a series of spaced inwardly extending fingers H which surround an open centralspace G and are approximately radial, inwardly tapered, and provided with lateral vertical flanges tliwabutting the'tube walls and enabling the fingers to resist downward pressure, such as is exerted bythe weight ofa person walking over the structure, especially since the fiaililge G resists lateral-movement of the tube wa y In this instance, both tubes are shown as cylinders. AWhen desired, the inner cylinder may be raised as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to expose its lateral opening` above the top of theouterfcylinder, onwhich it rests at other times, and this upward movement is limited by a stud K, or the like, which projects from the outer cylinder through a slot B into said opening. hen so raised, the water receptacle E may be inserted, to rest upon the support D. The inner cylinder may then be lowered until the flange G rrests upon the upper end of lthe outer cylinder or may be lowered a less distance, to bring a notch B in its niargin.` into registry `with the stud K, when a slight rotary vmovement of the inner cylinder causes the stud to engage in the not-ell and hold the inner cylinder raised to a' distance delgiending` upon the location of the notch or notches.

Preferably the height is such that the side opening in the inner cylinder will be a little below the top of its companion. Under such conditions, rain will not carry a material' amount of earth into the cylinders, nor throw earth upon the Howers, as it might were they not raised at all.

vIt may be noted that the pointed fingers surrounding the central opening inthe top aid in maintaining a pleasing arrangementof the flowers M.

It at any time it is desired `to cut grass, for example, with a lawn mower., or to rake the earth, this device will not nniterially interfere, for the flowers, if present may be ily removed and the inner Cylinder i owered until its top is flush with the surrounding earth. The flowers may be replaced later, o course. Then it is not desired to display flowers, the inner cylinder is lowered as just suggested, and the flower receptacle, preferably of' glass or metal, may

Irest concealed but always ready for instant use'. It is important that no water can aeeumulate 4in the cylinders` outside the receptacle, for various obvious reasons.

Vhat I claim is:

1. The combination with an. outer tube to bev sunk in the ground in vertical position, of an inner tube slidable axially in the outer tube, and means for limiting the upward movement of the inner tube and preventing its separation from its companion.

2. The combination with a downwardly open flower-holder tube Aadapted to be sunk in the earth whenin upright position, of a coacting tube sliding vertically yin the first and adapted to carry: an enclosed flower receptacle, means for preventing the-separation of the two tubes, and means for loekingy the inner tube at a predetermined height n in the outertube. l f

' 8. The `combination with an outer flowerholder member to be` sunk n the. eartlrto substantially its full length, ofa eo-aeting inner tube out away laterally to form on one sidean opening, at somedistance from each end, to insert andremove a flower receptacle,

andy means for preventing the separation of the tubes, said inner tube being provided at its upper end with means for holding, prop'- erly separated, flowers passing downward into said rece taele.

4..' The com ination with a flower-holder i tube tov be sunk in the groundto its full length, of a eo-aeting inner tube laterally out away between its end portions to form an opening for inserting a flower receptacle, provided below the opening with a support for such receptacle and at its upper end with a flange to rest upon the outer tube, and a stop preventing the separation of the tubeswhile allowing the inner one to rise exposingr said opening.

5. The `combination with an outerflowerholder tube vto be sunk in the ground, in.

vertical position, of a tubular` receptacle teleseoping with said tube and khaving-between itsxends a lateral opening to permit the insertion and removal of a water oontainer when the reeeptaeleis partially withdrawn from the outer tube.

6. The combination with a tubular flower-` holder member to be permanently ems. bedded, in upright position, inl-the ground,l

ofa eo-aeting member, adapted to contain a `water receptacle, sliding vertically inthe` member first mentioned and havingy at-its open upperuend a series of Vmarginally flanged, radial fingers. i. l i

VAIn testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature. i

JOHN BUSS. 

